Agricultural implement



Nav. 11, 1924. y l 1,5149@ v J. M.r MEY-ERS AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Filed Jan. 17 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l zu v '45 s g V24 '61j `a1 E4 3? Y 1 v 1 a; 15 11 N, 30 11 Nov. 11, 1924. 1,514,982

- J. M. MEYERS AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT Filed Jan. 17. 1920 2 sheets-sheer 2 @woe-whom of@ mm@ er @371g 6117601440152/ OZ Patented Nov. 11, 1924.

UNiTEusTArE-s 1,514,982 PATENT. oFFlcE.

i AGRICULTURAL nurrnsiiuniv'r.

Application led J'anlariyl 17, .1920.. SeriaINo. 352,137.

- as will `enable .others skilled in the art to which the invention relates to make'anduse the same, reference being made therein to the accompanyingdrawings, which. forma partfof th'isaspeciic'atlon.

This 'invention `relates'to agricultural -implem-ents of the type including a tractor and a tractor operated harvesting mechanism, es'- pecially a mechanism. ofthe mower type. The invention includes among its objects l'the provision of a harvesting apparatus including a tractor'ha-ving positively driven wheels arranged in 'pairs on the two sides of the tractor, alsothe combinationwith a tractor olf'y a lioating implement' trame .supported 'in part by yielding means on the tractor and in part by a'sho'e `or wheel contacting withfthe ground surface,.also the combination with a tractor of a harvesting mechanism arranged to be operated bythe engine lof the tractor, also the provision-of improved transmission and control devices for the driving means.;

With the above and'otherobjectsin view as will hereinaftermore fully appear the invention vcomprises the combinations and sub-'combinations l I herein described and set forth in'the claimshereto appended.

In the accompanying drawings showing one embodiment of my invention,-

Fig. 1 is a lan view of a tractor' having a mower attac imentisecured in operative relation thereto. 1 n f v '.Fig.` 2 is' a side elevationfot` the ktractor and mower.

' wheel-s, and

- Fig. 3 is a similar view showing a modilied form. l" Vf Fig. 4-is a detail view showing a section through the axle of one of the tractor Fig. 5is a view showing a modified form means. f

In the drawings, 10 indicates 'the frame of atractor having the dependingl portions 11, 12, the portions `11 supporting at their lower ends theaxlesof *the forward traction wheels 13, and the portions"12 the axles f of 'control device for thersickle actuating of `the rear traction wheelsvll. Since .the

- axlesfof 'these wheels remain at the same anglev relative to the frame of thezmachine itv will4 'be understood .that the-tractor` is steered by driving, i..e.,f .its direction of travel is changed by changing the relative rate or direction of rotation of the wheels uponfone side as compared with those on the other. ,n l y.

In orderto drivethe traction wheels I providejthe -`front and rear'y wheels .respectivelywithtoothed gears 15 16, each pair oftoothefl gears-beingen aged -byalantern gear 17'. Coaxial with .gear 17 is toothed gear 18, drivenv lfrom pinion 19 on engine driveny shaft. 2O through the intermediate lantern pinion 21. The. shaft 20 is driven from, the engine by direct and reverse pul-y leys 22,23, and lbelts 24', 25 extendingfrom pulleys arranged to be driven constantly b v the engine inanyA suitablemanner, one of these pulleys being shown-at 26, Fig..2.' 'Ehe shaft 20 on oneside of themachine is independentl'of the corresponding shaft 20 on the other side, the drivingmechanism being merely duplicated for the two sides. It will be seen therefore that by the provision of suitable tightening devices for-the direct and reverse belts and by proper manipulation 'thereof the pair ofv tractionwheels on one side may be driven either in a forward or reverse direction. or permitted toremaiu otherside. e f

The mower frame comprises the side members 30 which are `pivotally mounted preferably coaxially withnthe frontwheels of the tractor. This mounting-includes, as shown in Fig. v4. a fixed hollow axle 31 on which the member 30 is secured by collar 32 screwed on the end of the .aXle. The cutter bar 331m which the sickle 34 is mounted to at restindependently ofy the pair upon the reciprocate in the usual manner is carried at the front of the tractor, and extending thence -to the` segment 38 pivoted at the rear end of the tractor. means for operating'vthis chaintofraise or lowerv the mower rameconsisting of the hand lever 39 carryingdetent 40 cov-operati ing withfixed segment/11. The cham .may

I have provided yso when depressed to thereby retract the chain. l

An additional or alternative operating dee Vice is provided comprising a foot lever 43 suitably secured to the end of the chain.

It will be seen'that the hand lever with its associated parts provides a means whereby the cutter-bar maybe raised and retained in an desired position while the foot lever may employed to assist in elevatingtlie cutter-bar or may be used to lift the bar temporarily, as .in passingy over 4an obstruction. e

A spring 44 issecured at one end to the elevating chain 36, and the other end is attac-hed to a loop suitably mounted upon the frame of the tractor. This spring serves to yieldingly support a portion of the weight ofthe mower frame and related parts, there- 'by permitting the mower parts to fioat over the ground to a certain extent. The attachment of the spring t-o the loop 45 permits the spring to move freely when the .chain is retracted for the purpose of elevating the cutter-bar. f

lIt will bev noted that the elevating yan supporting devices are duplicated for the two sides of the machine thereby rendering it possible to manipulate either end of the cutter-bar to some extent independentlyr of the other, or to raise both ends simultaneously with less effort than would yotherwise be possible. l l l The means fordriving the cutter-bar may comprise an elbow lever pivoted at 51 on the mower frame and conneetedby pitman n 52 to crank disk 53 secured upon one end of shaft 54 suitably -iournaled Vin the .hollow axle 31; The other end of shaft .54, carries a pulley 55 operatively connected as by belt 56, to pulley 57 on the main shaft 58, which is-constantly driven by the engine 59. A belt tightener vpulley 60 carried by elbow lever 61 and actuated by weight 62 operates to tighten the belt. In order to loosen the 'belt to interrupt the driving connections I provide'a chain 63 connected .to a lever 64 so located as to be operable by theknee of the tractor driver' when in his usual. position on seat 65.

In addition to the deviceactuated directly by the operator as above described, .I have provided an automatic-means for interrupting the actuation of the cuttermechanism upon the elevation of the cutter frame. This means comprises a reciprocable rod 82, connected at one end as shown in Fig. 2 to the frame of the tightening pulley 60, the other end being positioned adjacent to a cam member 83 carried by some part of the cutter frame, as by one ofthe bars 30. `The cam lis so formed andvpositioned with referenceto the rod .82 that the elevation vof the frame will cause the rod 82 to be moved n a direction to swing the tightening` pulley 60 away from the belt 56, thereby interrupting the driving connection to thel cutter.

A modified form of drive is shown in Fig. 5, the yshaft 54 in this case being driven by a sprocket chain from shaft 58, and a `clutch 66 being interposed to connect the shaft 58 to the sprocket wheel 67, a lever 68 being provided to operate the clutch.

The `embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 3 involves a number of variations from the form already described. The gear 1,8,which may be arranged to drive the trac-r tor wheels in the manner illustrated in Fig. 2, is shown as beingdriren by a chain y70 and pinion 71 engaging gear 18 in place of the gearing described above. T he cutterbar is provided with a ground engaging shoe 72 instead of the wheel 35, and is supported in part by the rod 7 3 connected to one arm of elbow lever 74, the other arm of which is joined by flexible connection 75 passing over pulley 76 to the hand and foot levers 39 and 43 respectively. The springl 44 in this case is connected to one arm of elbow lever 74 instead of to the chain. The sickle may be driven by a beve-l gear 77 ysecured to shaft 54 and engaging a bevel gear 7 8, motion being transmitted, through shaft 79, crank` also be understood that, while I have herein referred to a mower such reference has been merely illustrative as to the broader features of the invention and that other forms of harvesting implements and the like designed to travel over the surface, may likewise be included within the scope ofthe invention.

I claim:

1. The combination with a tractor frame,

'of a harvester mechanism carried thereby, a

bearing member supported in said tractor frame, a ground wheel rotatably mounted upon said bearing member, and driving means for said mechanism comprising a shaft rotatably mounted within said bearing member.y f

`2. The combination with a wheeled frame of a harvester frame pivoted thereto, cutting lll() mechanism carried by said harvester frame,

and driving mechanism for said cutting mechanism comprising a driving shaft arranged within the hub of one of thekwheels of saidy wheeled' frame and a pitman connecting said. shaft lto said Vcutting mechanism. Y

`3. The combination with a tractor havin a ground wheel, a harvester frame pivote coaxially -with said wheel, cutting mechanism on said frame, and means for driving said cutting mechanism comprising a shaft passing through the hub of said wheel and means on one side of the Wheel for driving the shaft and on the other side of the wheel for connecting the shaft to said mechanism.

4. The combination with a tractor of a harvester frame mounted to swing vertically about a, point of support on said tractor, means for suspending said harvestei` frame 4from another point of support on said traci. hand lever and a foot lever operable upon said element independently or simultaneously.

6. The combination of a traveling frame having an engine thereon, a harvester frame attached to said traveling frame, cutting mechanism carried by said harvester fra-me, means for elevating said harvester frame relativelyT to said traveling frame, and

means for actuating said cutter mechanism from said engine comprising a belt, and means for tightening said belt, said tightening means provided with connections operable by elevation of said harvester frame to interrupt the actuation of said cutter mechanism.

7 The combination of a traveling .frame having an engine thereon, a harvester frame attached to swing vertically about a point of support on said traveling frame, cutting mechanism on said harvester frame, means `for elevating said harvester frame, mea-ns for actuating saidcutting mechanism comprising a wheel concentric with said point of support, a belt for actuatin said wheel from said engine, atightener i or said belt, and means for actuatingsaid tightener to interrupt driving connections comprising a cam on said harvester frame and a reciprocatory element actuable by said cam.

` tached to said tractor to travel in frontl 8. The combination with a tractor comrising traction wheels, an en ine, and gearing between said engine an each of said tractor wheels, of a harvester frame atthereof, cutting mechanism on said harvester frame, means for actuating said cutter mechanism comprising a belt driven by said engine independently 4 of said gearing, a

tightener for said belt, manually operable.

means for controlling said tightener4 and means operable by elevation of said harvester frame relatively to said tractor for automatically conti'ollinn said tightener.

9. In combination witli a tractor having an engine,y of a harvesting implement at'- taclied to said tractor, cutting mechanism carried by said implement, driving connections between said engine. and said cutting mechanism, means for interrupting sai driving connections, and means for actuating vsaid interrupting means comprising a lever mounted in position to be'operable by the knee of the tractor driver.

10. The combination of a wheeled frame, an implementpivoted to said frame, means for raising said frame comprising a flexible element, a manually operable lever arranged to actuate said element by connections adapted to permit said element to be actuated independently of said lever, and pedal actuated means connected to said element to actuate the same independently of or simultaneously with the operation of said lever. 11. In a tractor harvester, aV ground wheel, a tractor frame having a portion extending to the hub of the. wheel on each side of said wheel, means connecting said trame portions andv upon which the said hub is supported, and a harvester frame having bars on each side .of said wheel pivotally supported by said tractor frame.

12. In a tractor harvester, a groun Wheel, a tractor frame having a frame portion on each side of said wheel, means connecting said frame portions and upon which the hub of said wheel is supported, a harvester frame arranged to swing about the axis of the saidwheel, cutter mechanism on said harvester frame and driving means for.

14. A tractor `harvesting implement comprising a I tractor, frame having ground wheels mounted thereon and an engine, a harvester frame'pivotally connected to said tractor frame, concentrically with a pair of said ground wheels, means actuated by said engine for driving the ground wheels, and

driving means for said harvester actuated by said engine independentl of said first mentioned driving means an comprising a pulley concentric with said pivotal connection.

15. In 'a harvesting implement the combination of a traveling frame, a harvester 5 traine connected to said traveling frame to swing` .vertically with reference jthereto, flexible means suspending said harvester frame, and a resilient device connected directly 4to and operating upon said flexible device to yieldingly support a portion of the Weight of the harvester frame and assist the lloating movement of the latter in passinhgT over obstruetions.

In testimony whereof I alix my signa` ture.

' vJOHN M. MEYERS. 

